Daily GK Update: 19th October 2021

 National & International Appointments

1. Amit Rastogi appointed as new Chairman & Managing Director of NRDC

• Commodore Amit Rastogi (Retd) has been appointed as the new Chairman & Managing Director of National Research Development Corporation (NRDC)
• Prior to this, he was the Director of Electrical Engineering at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence for 5 years and Additional General Manager Tech Services at Naval Dockyard for 2 years.
• NRDC was established in India in 1953 to help develop and promote technologies developed at various national R&D institutions.

 National Affairs

2. NITI Aayog launches Geospatial Energy Map of India

• NITI Aayog in collaboration Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Energy Ministries of Government has launched Geospatial Energy Map of India or Geographic Information System (GIS) Energy Map of India to provide a holistic picture of all energy resources of the country.
• It will identify and locate all primary and secondary sources of energy and their transportation/transmission networks for  comprehensive view of energy production and distribution in a country

 National & International Organizations

3. ICC and UNICEF partners for campaign on mental health issues

• International Cricket Council (ICC) and UNICEF have announced their partnership to raise awareness about the mental health issues and wellbeing amongst children and adolescents.
• Under this partnership, ICC will promote the #OnYourMind campaign of UNICEF at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021
• ICC will use its global platforms, including its broadcast and digital channels to support UNICEF’s work and urge for greater commitment towards mental health and physical wellbeing.

 Banking & Finance

4. RBI imposes Rs 1 crore penalty on SBI for non-compliance

• RBI has imposed Rs 1 crore monetary penalty on State Bank of India (SBI) under the provisions of section 47A (1) (c), 46(4)(i) and 51(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• Penalty has been imposed for non-compliance with the directions contained in RBI (Frauds classification and reporting by commercial banks and select FIs) directions 2016.
• It also focuses upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

 Agreement

5. Sri Lanka seeks $500 million line of credit from India to purchase fuel

• Government of Sri Lanka has sought USD 500 million credit line from India to pay for its crude oil purchases amid a severe foreign exchange crisis in the island nation.
• It is a part of the India-Sri Lanka economic partnership arrangement.
• The facility would be used for purchasing petrol and diesel requirements.
• State-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) owes USD 3.3 billion to the two main government banks: Bank of Ceylon and People's Bank.

 Summits & Conferences

6. UIDAI to host ‘Aadhaar Hackathon 2021’ from 28th to 31st October

• UIDAI is hosting a Hackathon titled as ‘Aadhaar Hackathon 2021’ targeted at young innovators, who are still at various Engineering institutes.
• It will begin from 28th October to 31st October 2021.
• Aadhaar Hackathon 2021 is themed around two topics: Enrolment and Update and Identity and Authentication
• The winners of each theme would be rewarded by UIDAI through prize money and other lucrative benefits.
• It is the first-ever event being conducted by Aadhaar team

 Defense

7. Indian Army team wins gold medal in Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2021

• Indian Army has been awarded the gold medal at 2021 Cambrian Patrol Exercise, held at Brecon, Wales, in United Kingdom.
• Indian Army was represented by a team from 4/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) which competed against 96 teams representing special forces and regiments.
• Ex-Cambrian Patrol is an international event organized by UK Army, in which militaries from across the world take part.
• The drill is sometimes referred as the Olympics of Military Patrolling.

 National Affairs

8. Civil Aviation Minister virtually flags off 6 routes

• Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia has virtually flagged off 6 routes expanding the aerial connectivity of North-East India: Kolkata – Guwahati, Guwahati – Aizawl, Aizawl – Shillong, Shillong – Aizawl, Aizawl – Guwahati, and Guwahati – Kolkata.
• Flight connectivity on these routes has been a long-pending demand of the natives.
• It will open seamless smooth aerial access option for nature lovers, travellers, tourists etc.

 Science & Technology

9. Polar bears could vanish by 2100: Earth's Future study

• According to Earth's Future journal study, if carbon emissions continue at current levels, summer ice will disappear by 2100 and, along with it, creatures such as seals and polar bears will vanish by 2100 as well.
• During summer, when some of the ice melts, winds and currents carry it for great distances some into the North Atlantic, but much of it into the Arctic’s farthest-north coasts, along Greenland and Canadian islands resulting in a rich marine ecosystem.

 Science & Technology

10. IIT Kanpur discovered a novel target to treat prostate cancer

• IIT, Kanpur researchers have discovered that a particular gene (DLX1) that plays an important role in the development of jaws, skeleton, and interneurons in the brain has an important role to play in the growth and development of prostate cancer.
• DLX1 protein has been used as a urine-based biomarker.
• Using small molecules as inhibitors, the researchers have shown in mice a new therapeutic strategy to treat people with DLX1-positive prostate cancer.

 Agreement

11. J&K signs MoU with Government of Dubai for Real Estate development

• Jammu and Kashmir administration has signed MoU with Government of Dubai for real estate development, industrial parks, IT towers, multipurpose towers, logistics, medical college, super specialty hospital and more.
• It is a milestone after which the investment will pour in from entire globe and is a big developmental push.
• It will help the Union Territory to scale new heights in Industrialization and sustainable growth.
• J&K Lt Governor: Manoj Sinha.

 Banking & Finance

12. RBL Bank working on a new digital platform ‘Abacus 2.0’

• RBL Bank is working on a new digital platform titled as Abacus 2.0, that will help the bank to scale up customer acquisition over the next few years.
• Using Abacus 2.0, RBL Bank will provide products and services to new as well as existing customers digitally.
• Abacus 1.0 was launched by RBL as a platform to increase its customer base in Tier 1 cities.
• Headquarters of RBL Bank: Mumbai.

 Obituaries

13. Saurashtra Cricketer Avi Barot passes away

• Saurashtra cricketer Avi Barot (29 years) passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest.
• He has represented Haryana and Gujarat in his professional career
• He is a former India Under-19 captain and a member of Ranji Trophy-winning team in the 2019-20 season.
• Saurashtra cricket team is one of the three first-class cricket teams based in Gujarat